Med Admin Exam 2

Weight

g or kg

Volume (liquid)

Liters

Length

meters

To convert from large to small

Move the decimal point to the right

To convert from small to large

Move the decimal point to the left

Rights of med admin

• Right patient

• right drug

• right dose

• right route

• right time

• right documentation

• right reason

• right response

• right to refuse

When does the 24-hour clock begin?

The 24-hour clock begins at midnight as 0000

Calculating for military time

From 1 pm, add 12 to the hour: 1 pm = 1300, 2 pm = 1400, etc.

What time in the military is the same as the standard time?

1 am to 12 noon

Enteral

By way of digestive tract

Parenteral

Any way other than digestive tract

Best way to check tube placement

X

At bedside

Check pH of aspirate, observe residual, assess abdomen, auscultate

Controlled drug wasting

Requires 2 licensed nurses to witness and document

Suspension

Medication particles dispersed in liquid (must shake)

Solution

Drug dissolved evenly in liquid

Syrup

Medication dissolved in sugar and water, often flavored

Elixir

Medication in alcohol and water, often sweetened

Patient identifiers

At least 2 (name, DOB, MRN, ID band, etc.)

Unit dose

Individually packaged, safest, most common

Pharmacy bulk

Large container, must measure doses

Floor stock

Less common, higher error risk

Prep/admin

Use aseptic technique, follow MAR, double

MAR

Patient info, allergies, medication name, dose, route, frequency, time, nurse’s initials/signature

Which meds can be crushed

• Immediate-release tablets

• Plain tablets

• Scored tablets

Helping difficulty swallowing

Crush if safe, mix with soft food, use liquid form, or feeding tube

Pour liquid meds

At eye level, on flat surface, use medicine cup

Most accurate for small doses

Use oral syringe

BID

Twice a day

TID

Three times a day

QID

Four times a day

Q4H

Every 4 hours

QHS

At bedtime

PRN

As needed

If dose too small for a cup

Draw up with a syringe, then transfer if needed

Buccally

Between gum and cheek

SL (sublingual)

Under the tongue

Unit dose system

Safer, uses bar

Nicotine gum

chew slowly until there is a tingling taste, park it between cheek and gum then alternate between chewing and parking for about 30 minutes total.

Solid medications

Tablets, capsules, caplets

Liquid medications

Elixirs, syrups, solutions, suspensions

Enteral meds

Administer via NG, G tube, J tube if patient cannot swallow

Absorption

Movement of drug into bloodstream

Distribution

Transport of drug to tissues/organs

Metabolism

Breakdown of drug (usually in liver)

Excretion

Removal of drug (usually kidneys)

Elixir

Alcohol

Solution

Evenly dissolved drug in liquid

Suspension

Drug particles in liquid, must be shaken

Syrup

Sugar solution with medication

Controlled substance

High potential for abuse, strictly regulated

Transcribe

Copying provider orders to MAR